By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – State Sen. Bill Brady is extending the olive branch to an old political rival, President Barack Obama, who is expected to speak to the Illinois legislature next week.

PODCAST: Listen to Scott and Colleen’s interview with Brady on WJBC.

“I think it’s wonderful any time a sitting President visits Illinois,” Brady said. “I look forward to his address. Every area of government could use more civility. If that’s what he thinks his best use of time is, I applaud him for coming to Illinois.”

Brady told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin, Obama fashioned himself as a ‘dictator of sorts’ when he was in the Illinois Senate. As an example, Brady said Obama reneged on an agreement to withhold a heath care bill that was being debated in committee.

“We thought health care was an important thing that needed to be debated,” Brady said. “We were on deadline, we agreed to move it out of committee if he agreed not to call it on the (Senate) floor. Low and behold, several months later, he calls it on the floor. It’s his right to do so even though he gave us this agreement. He thinks his way is the right way.”

Obama is expected to bring a message of political cooperation to the legislature in his February 10 speech in Springfield as Illinois is mired in a seven-month long budget stalemate.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].